#ferociousqueak

Thank you!! You are a lovely human, and I’m so glad I know you! (Move to Canada.)

6.  What’s your favorite piece of dialogue you wrote this year? 

From The Words That Change Us, when Shepard extracts Kaidan from a party mid-migraine: 

“This way,” Shepard says, hand on his back to guide him in the right direction.

Kaidan digs in his heels. “No.”

“Pretty sure it’s this way.”

“No—you. Stay here. ’m fine.”

“Oh, yeah,” Shepard says. “You look real fine. Picture of health.”

Kaidan puts a hand to his forehead and pushes as hard as he can. As though adding more pressure to what’s already mounting in his skull will improve his situation. “Don’t need an escort.”

Shepard snorts. “Right, I’ll just pin a note to your chest that says, ‘property of the Myeongnyang, please return if found.’”

“Might work.”

“Kaidan.”

“I can get back on my own.”

Shepard lets go of him, backs a couple of steps away and folds his arms across his chest. “Sure, fine. Knock yourself out.”

Kaidan takes a step, inhales sharp though his nose and wavers as dizziness washes over him, with a side of nausea just for kicks. He throws an arm out to balance himself but Shepard is already at his side, pulling Kaidan’s arm around his neck. “I didn’t mean knock yourself out literally, you ass.”

Kaidan grunts. In response, Shepard slips an arm around his waist.

“I can’t see out of my left eye,” Kaidan mumbles.

“I know.”

“What do you mean you know.”

“I know all your tells,” Shepard replies. “Will you shut up and let me help you?”

Kaidan hesitates, gripping Shepard’s shoulder until some of the nausea passes. “Everyone in that room is here for you.”

“They’ll wait.”

“No they won’t.”

Shepard starts walking, dragging Kaidan along with him. “They can wait or they can go home. I’ve got more important places to be.”

“Escorting your helpless lieutenant is more important than celebrating the thing you’ve worked for your whole life.”

“Yes.”

Kaidan digests this for a moment. If the pounding in his skull would just subside for half a second, maybe he could digest it quicker.

“If I promise to go back to the party after I tuck you in bed, will you please stop being a pain the ass?” Shepard asks.

“Fine.”

“You’re too good to me.”

7. What’s your favorite piece of description or narration?

From Fugue: 

Even the fatigues Kaidan’s got on now were borrowed from someone on the Marrakesh. He’d had the same problem Ashley Williams had after Eden Prime. She’d come onto the Normandy with nothing but her armor, and Anderson hadn’t been able to find a pair of reg boots that fit her. She’d clonked all over the ship in her Phoenix hardsuit boots until they got to the Citadel, where she’d dragged Kaidan to some fancy boutique and bought the only pair in her size she could afford – neon green with matching laces.

He’d actually looked for neon green when he picked up a replacement for the pair that went down on the Normandy. They didn’t have it. He’d smiled at the clerk and left without buying anything. A few minutes later he was leaning against a wall in a side alley struggling to catch his breath, just like the night of the gala.

That night, Shepard had talked him through it, one arm around him, the other trapping Kaidan’s hand to his heart, the rise and fall of his chest sure and steady under Kaidan’s palm. Feel that? he’d asked. We’ll do it together. When I breathe, you breathe.

Had Shepard been able to breathe, at the end? Had he panicked, with no one there to tell him it would be all right?

THANK YOU <3

fortnight: what wip do you plan on posting next, if at all?

answered here!

january: what was the first fic you posted this year?

Surrender the fic where Kaidan watches Shepard surrender the SR2 and herself to the Alliance after the events of ME2.   

Thank you my dearest!! Birthdays during a pandemic suck but I was able to have a little fun by taking a brief trip to a plant nursery to make my partner buy me house plants that I will do my best not to kill! 

thanks for the ask! 

So this was going to be a trio of scenes where Shepard is with Garrus while he’s drunk to show the development in their relationship over each game. only have the first installment done but here you go!

excerpt underneath the cut!

1. Small kisses littered across the other’s face.

Sara never really thought of herself as a ‘morning person,’ certainly Scott had always disagreed. But she figured those types of things didn’t matter so much aboard a ship. In space there wasn’t a sun progressing across the sky to alert you to the time of day, there was just the ship’s clock and your own internal clock to guide you.

It was all relative. Mostly.

Liam was not a morning person. Sara had learned that slowly while unraveling all the facts that made Liam... Liam. He often stayed up too late, engrossed in whatever project had taken his fancy, and would rise late. It was as much a fact about him as his love for vids... and her. 

They were opposites in that regard. Not usually a problem, except the times Sara found herself awake while he slept.

Like today. She had awoken in what passed for early morning aboard the Tempest, while he snored softly on the pillow next to hers, his arm a comfortable weight across her stomach. She spent a good while watching him, studying the way his lashes fanned against his cheeks, and the new stubble that covered his jaw. 

It was lovely, in the quiet early hours, to lie with him. 

Only there were things to do and new places to see and Sara couldn’t lie around forever. However tempting the thought may be. She rolled onto her side to face him, not caring if she jostled him. Although Liam didn’t stir. 

Sara pursed her lips in thought. Carefully, so as not to startle him awake, she lifted her hand and prodded his cheek with one finger. He snuffled in his sleep, face souring, as he proceeded to scoot himself closer and bury his face against her neck. His breath huffed against her chest, warm and tickling.

“You’re awake,” she said. 

“No‘m not,” was the mumbled reply. 

“So you talk in your sleep now? Good to know, I think I’ll kick you back to the bunks. You can annoy Suvi with your babbling.” 

“Hey now.” He lifted his head, eyes still heavy with sleep. “That’s just rude.” 

Sara smiled. “So you are awake.”

“Against my better judgement, yes.” He lowered his head back down to his pillow and sighed as he shut his eyes, arm tightening around her waist. 

“What if I make it worth your while?” she asked with a sing-song voice, propping herself up on her elbow. 

One bleary brown eye blinked open, full of doubt. “I don’t know, it would take a lot to make up for the fact it’s 0600.”

“How do you know what time it is?”

“Just a guess. But my point stands.”

“I see. Good thing I have a plan.” Sara bent her head close to his and laid a kiss against his cheek. Feather light, her lips barely brushed his skin before she kissed his jaw, and forehead, and then his cheek again. 

She peppered kisses across his face, and somewhere along the line his incredulous amusement turned into real laughter. At that point she felt his arm snake around her waist to pull her flush against him, his other hand going to cup her jaw in order to still her. Sara waited for the space of a heartbeat before his lips found hers in a languid kiss. 

“What do you think of my plan so far?” Sara asked once they pulled away for air. 

"I’m warming up to it. Is there a second phase?” 

“Use your imagination.” 

A slow smile spread across his face. “I have a very vivid imagination, you know.” 

“I’m aware. So you better just show me.” She framed his face with both hands and kissed him again, her mouth slanting over his. 

“Sara?” Liam mumbled into the kiss.

“Yeah?” 

“Maybe mornings aren’t all bad.” 

Thank you all so much! It has indeed been a good day! (Well, work had its slightly annoying bits, as work does, but then I got to come home and eat pizza and cake with Clio and read your lovely messages. <3)